Cordova Places 2^nd, Uhland 5^th at State

By Elaine Lindholm

February 27, 2004

Wrestling fans were treated to another exciting weekend of wrestling at the Pepsi Center. If you have never been to watch the "Big Event", you are missing something. It is wonderful to watch the best of the state compete. Most wrestling fans have followed several of the boys from all over the state, if not in person, then from the stories in the newspapers and on the internet. Then to get to see them in person as they compete in front of a crowd as big as at the Pepsi Center is pretty amazing. The best 16 from all classes (2A-5A, 1A is combined with 2A) were there to vie for the #1 spot in each of their classes and weights.

Cody Cordova at 152 lbs had his best tournament of the year. It seemed he knew he had something to accomplish. After finishing one spot away from placing last year, he was determined not to repeat that result, pinning his first 3 opponents. But, those wins did not come as easy as it sounds. His first opponent was Dembrowski from Rangely. Cordova got the first 2 points with a take down and turned him for 3 but couldn’t get the pin before giving up 2 as Dembrowski got out of the pin hold and reversed it. After 1 the score was 5-2 in favor of Cordova. Dembrowski chose down and Cody worked most of the period on a pin but only earned 3 points for the near fall before he lost his hold and was reversed and put on his back. Holding off the pin and much to the eagle fan’s relief the end of the period came. At the end of 2 it was Cordova by 1, 8-7. This time Cordova chose bottom and took most of the period before he got the reversal and this time got the pin with 8 seconds left in the match. Next was Dirks from Holyoke. The 2 had met earlier in the year with Cordova getting the win by a pin. Dirks knew he would have to wrestle a very good match to beat Cordova this time and had the first take down and Cody again was on his back fighting off a pin. After the first period, Dirks was in the lead 5-0. In the beginning of the 2^nd Dirks came close to another take down but Cody fought it off and had his own takedown. Down 2-5, Cody worked for the pin finally turning him for 3 but not before giving up a penalty point. Cody was down by 1 going into the 3^rd. Cordova had the choice for the start of this round and chose down. An escape tied it up and a lot of time expired before Cody could get the reversal and finally put Dirks on his back, flat, for the pin. This come from behind strategy had been working for Cody so he decided to do the same for the 3^rd match. After Trujillo, from Antonito, scored the first 2 with a take down the match for the first 2 periods was back and forth but Trujillo had increased his lead to 6-2 by the end of 2. Knowing he would need a 5 point move, Cody promptly had the takedown and :32 seconds into the period, had the pin. That was the end of the run though as Cordova’s next match was against Nicodin from Hilltop Baptist. Nicodin is only a junior but was a returning state champion and had placed 2^nd his freshman year. Cody couldn’t overcome Nicodin’s quickness or skill, ending a great season placing 2^nd in the state. Congratulations go out to Cody on a great year!

At 103 lbs., Hunter Uhland was our only other state placer. Receiving a bye the first round (due to a wrestler failing to make weight) Uhland had his first match against Springer from Wiggins. The two had met twice before each with a win. This time, Uhland again got the win slowly but surely scoring points and winning 7-1. Wietzel from Delores has been ranked in the top 4 spots all year and Uhland, giving him a good battle, lost a close one sending him in to the consolation bracket. Uhland next had Chesnick from Paonia. It seemed Uhland was going to be in the finals vying for 3^rd place since Springer had beaten Chesnick earlier in the tournament but State is called "The Great Equalizer" and after quickly getting caught in a head and arm throw, Uhland found himself competing for 5^th place instead. Good athletes will shake off their losses, not really forgetting about them but learning from them and that is what Hunter did as he defeated his next opponent in a major decision and placing 5th. Hunter is only a sophomore and we look forward to seeing him wrestle the next 2 years.

Shawn Kraft at 171 lbs. had a very good year, qualifying for state. However, placing 4^th in Regionals pitted him against the #1 ranked wrestler in the state right off the bat. Lane from Nucla has been ranked #1 in the state and although only a freshman he had a 31-2 record going into the state tournament and after placing 1^st this year is on his way to becoming a 4 time state champ. Down in the consolation bracket, Kraft received a forfeit and then took on Stinson from Fowler. After no score in the first period, Shawn chose down to start the 2^nd and quickly had the escape for one. Neither wrestler scored again that period so at the start of the 3^rd Kraft was only ahead by 1. This time Stinson was down and had the escape tying it at 1-1. Shawn wanted to make it exciting for the fans so just decided to wait until less that 10 seconds to go in the match before getting the take down and the win. Shawn was on the tough side of the bracket to start with and his next opponent was no exception. Next was Hammonds from Sargent who had the 2^nd best record. Shawn fought a very good match and going into the 3^rd was only down by one. A couple of quick shots and some near fall points by Hammonds put Shawn out of the tournament just one away from placing. Shawn is a senior and has had a very good high school career in spite of a couple of injuries, one of which put him out of Regionals his Junior year. We are going to miss him along with Cody Cordova who is also a senior.

Junior Kelly Lindholm and Freshman Tyler McCracken were the other 2 state qualifiers but both fell short of placing this year in state. Lindholm, at 160lbs this year, repeated his efforts of last year, going 2 and 2 for the weekend and one match away from placing. Lindholm had Becco from Rye to start the tournament. In control most of the match, Lindholm pinned Becco in the 3^rd. Next was Morris from Nucla who had been the favorite to win. Not letting that fact deter him, Lindholm gave him a very good match but came up one point short needing only a take down in the 3^rd for the win but not quite able to accomplish it. In the consolation bracket, Kelly won by 2 over Custer from Paonia. His next and final match was against Kern from Cheyenne Wells. Losing earlier in the season to Kern 0-4, Kelly came within 2 this time with the final score 3-5. This was Lindholm’s 2^nd trip to state and we look forward to seeing him there next year.

Tyler McCracken at 112 lbs. did very well his first year. Placing 4^th at Regionals also pitted him against a #1 ranked wrestler in the state. Vialpando from John Mall, a junior, had place 2^nd in 2003 and went on to place 1^st this year. He proved to be too much and defeated Tyler by a pin. Next, McCracken defeated Brown from Merino 5-1 before losing to Akana from South Park. McCracken fought off a pin from Akana but lost this one 2-8. McCracken will be back with 3 more chances at state.